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(No Model.)

- R. J. SHEEHY.

REGULATOR POR DYNAMO BLBCTRIG MACHINES. lNo"I 283,155l Patented Aug. 14, 1883.

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PAT-Erri* OEEICE.

ROBERT J. SHEEHY, OF NEW' YORK, Y.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO-ELCTRIC MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. SHEEHY, a citizen of the United States, residing 'in the Y city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful device for regulating and governing the strength of current in the circuit supplied by an electric generator, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a certain class of devices or appliances, the object of which is to automatically maintain the desired uniformity in the strength of current traversing the circuit of a dynamo-electric machine. It is well known that the strength of current within such a circuit is subject to fluctuations, these being due to a variety of causessuch, for example, as variations in the speed vwith which the armature is propelled, or

changes in the resistance of the external circuit due to the introduction of electric lights into or the withdrawal of them from the said circuit.

My invention therefore consists in a method of and apparatus for maintaining a uniform Strength of current throughout the workingcircuit of a dynamo-electric machine, which method may be, in general, described as follows: A

The fluctuations in the strength of current generated by a dynamdmachine cause corresponding variations in the magnetic force created in the pole-pieces of any electro-mag net vitalized by said current. These magnetic variations I employ as a source of power whereby to operate av switch in such manner as to introduce into or withdraw from a shuntcircuit spanning the helices of the iield'magnets one or more convolutions of line wire surrounding said held-magnet helices, through which fine-wire helices the current passes in such direction as to more or less demagnetize said field-magnets.

My invention also embraces certain details of mechanism, the subject-matter claimed being hereinafter specifically designated.

My invention is exhibited in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a general diagram of a dynamo-electric generator operating in conjunction with my device, and Fig. 2 isa detailed view of the form of switch and means of driving the same which I find convenient to employ. l

Referring to Fig. 1, I have therein shown the essential elements of a dynamo-electric pieces, L L2, Src.

part of Letters Patent No. 283,155, dated August 14, 1883. Application filed August 18, 1852. (No model.)

machine, of which A is the armature; B, the pole-piece of the held-magnet; C, the commutator; D and D2, the brushes. From the brush D2 the circuit may be traced by line 1, (in which may be placed the devices to be actuatedvas, for example, the electric lights E E2, &c.,) electro-magnet F', line 2, main magnetizing-helix G of the eld-magnet, line 3 fulcrum H2 of switch I-I, and om line 4 to brush D. The current in traversing this course will vitalize the electro-magnet F, which will exhibit variations, of magnetism correlative to the variations of the strength of said current. By means of th'ese variations I cause the revolutions of the shaft I in the following manner:

The shaft I is capable of revolving in the bearings J and J2, between which it carries a series of small armature-levers, K K2, ne., severally provided with soft-iron armature- These levers are loosely attached to the shaft I, which is providedwith the fixed brackets M M2, &c., securely attached to said shaft by binding-screws N N2, &c., serving to communicate at times the motion of said shaft tothe armature-levers K K2, Src. The brackets M M2, Sac., are arranged spirally upon the shaft I. rlhe pole-piece F2, I prefer to electroplate with some diamagnetic metal, in order to prevent excessive adhesion of the armatures thereto.v Assuming, now, that the shaft I is in the position shown in the gure, it willbe evident that when a current traverses the coils of the magnet F a strong attraction will be exerted by the pole-piece F2 for the armaturc'L, while, Owing to the spiral arrangement of the brackets, the attraction of the pole-piece for the armature L2 will be somewhat less, and that for the armature L2 still less, &c. Assuming the attractive force to be sufficient, it will cause the revolution of the shaft I in opposition to the force of the spring M, one end of which is connected to the cord N, attached to the circumference of the wheel O, while the other end is attached to the screw I), which serves to adjust its tension. By virtue of this attraction the shaft will now turn sufficiently to bring said armature in contact with the pole-piece F2 and the armatures L2 L2, &c., will now be slightly approached toward said pole-piece.

If the magnetic force bestill further increased,

the armature L2 will be attracted sufficiently to further rotate the shaft, as described, caus- IOO ing the bracket M to leave the armature L in contact with the pole-piece F2. The sha-ft I is in this manner made to revolve through successive parts of a single revolution, the extent of the arc of its revolution being dependent upon the degree of magnetism developed in the pole-piece F2 ot' the electromagnet. The shaft I also carries a beveled pinion, Q, the teeth oi' which engage with those of the toothed segment Q2, also beveled and rigidly attached at its center to the switch H', which is fulcrumed at H2, and capable of being moved into connection with any oneot' the contact-points S S2 S, &c.

The held-magnet B, in addition to the main magnetizingdielix G, is provided with a series of line-wire helices, T Tt T, Scc. One of the terminal wires of helix T is connected to the stop S', while the other terminal passes to helix T2, touching on the way at contactpoint S2. Similarly, the wire connecting the helices T2 and T:s is connected to the contactpoint S3. The terminal wire ol' the helix T* is connected to the line 2 at the point U. As the wire at is connected to the `:t'ulcrum ol.' the switch H when said switch is placed upon the contact-stop S, a portion oi" the current from the main' line will traverse all the fine- ,wire helices, the winding of which is such that the current will circulate through them in the reverse direction to that traversing the helix G. This current will constitute a derived or fractional current ol' that in said helix G, and, as it llows in the reverse direction, its effect will be to neutralize the mag netism developed in thepole-piecc ll. Il", now, the switch H be placed upon contact stop S, the reverse current will no longer traverse the coil T, but will circulate through the remaining shunt orline-wireheliccs- Similarly, if the switch be placed upon the contact-stop S, the helix Tt will be eliminated from the said sluint-circuit. The position, therelore, ofthe switch H will determine the degree oi' magnetism manifested by the pole-piece I.

` The position of the switch II depends upon the movements ol' the shait I, as explained above, and hence upon the electro-magnctism developed in the pole-piece F2 of the electromagnet It. It will therefore be understood that as the strength of current increases in the main line it will., on passing a predcten mined strength, (capable ol" regulation by means of the adjusting-screw lli) set in operation the device which is to diminish its strength. Thus my device automatically maintains a uniform strength ol" current upon the main line.

I do not narrowly limit mysell" to the exact devices and appliances which I have shown, it being evident that the theory ot' my invention is capable oit being embodied in a variety of ways.

The exact details of the electro-magnetic mechanism which I have herein shown for operating the switch which is to introduce the differential coils are not herein independently claimed, the same being claimed in another pending application llled by me ol' even. date herewith.

I claim as my invention.-

l. The combination, substantially as herein` bei'ore set forth, ot' a main inagnetizinghelix, a secondary helix surrounding said main magnetizinghelix, and means l'or causing the current to traverse more er less ol' said secondary helix in a reverse di rectionv to the current traversing said main nn'tgnetizing-hclix, for the purpose ol' modifying the generative action olI said generator.

The combination, substantially as hereinbelore set forth, oi' the lield-magnet ol' a dynamo-electric machine, a main magnctizin helix therefor', one or more secondary helices surrounding said main magnetizing-hclix, and mechanism :for introducing said secondary helices into and withdrawing them l'rom a shunt-circuit spanning said main magnetizing-helix for the purpose el" varying its el'- l'ects.

3. The combination, substanti-allyv as hereinbel'ore set forth, of the main magnetizinghelix ol' the held-magnet oi" a dynamo-electric machine, one or more secondary helices surrounding said main magnetizing-helix, and switch.mechanism l'or introducing said secondary helices successively into a shunt-circuit spanning said main magnetiZing-helix and wound in the reverse direction thereto.

l. The combination, substantially as hercinbelore set l'orth, ol' a main niagnetizinghclix ol" the :held-magnet ol' a dynamo-electric machine, dil'i'erentially-wound conductors surrounding said main magnetiZing-helix, and mechanism, substantially such as described, for automatically varying the length ot' said conductors correlatively with variations in the strength ol' current generated.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbe'l'oreset l'orth, octl a main magnet-izing-helix ol' a dynamo-electric machine, a series ol' opposing helices, a switch l'or iuelut'ling said helices in a sluint-circuit spanning said main magnetizi11g-helix, anda device oliieratcd by variations in the clectroauagnctisin produced by the main current 'lor operatin said switch.

(3. The combination, substantially as here inbel'orc set forth, ol" a main magnetizing-helix oi" the field-magnet oit' a dynamo-electric machine, thc helices of which are included in the main circuit, a shalt revolved bythe attraction ol' a magnet `l'or a series oli'armaturcs, a switch operated by changes in the angular position of said shalt, and dill'erential helices introduced into and withdrawn from a shuntcircuit spanning said main magnetiZing-hel ix, according to the position ol'said switch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this I-lth day ol' August, A. l). 1882.

ROBERT J. Sli'lflIl'lY.

Vitnesses:

Damm. W. Ilncncoii n, @Harmes G. TERRY.

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